Improvement in the art of coupling sections of pipe or tubing



H. K. FLAGLER 89.6. FIBROWN.

THE ART OF COUPLING SECTIGNS 0F PIPES 0R TUBING.

No,170,473, v Patented. Nov. 30,1875.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orrron.

HARVEY K. FLAGLER, OF BOSTON, AND CHARLES F. BROWN, OF READING,ASSIGNOBS TO THE NATIONAL TUBE-VVORKS (JOMPANY, OF BOSTON,MASS.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE ART OF COUPLING SECTIONS OF PIPE OR TUBING.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.l70,473, dated November30, 1875; application tiled August 25, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HARVEY K. FLAGLER, of Boston, in the county ofSufiolk, and CHARLES F. BROWN, of Reading, in the county of Middlesex,and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in theArt of Securing Lengths of Pipe to their Coupling-Sockets, of which thefollowing is a specification In the accompanying drawing, forming a partof this specification, Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of apipe-coupling embodying our invention. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 representsectional views of modifications of the same; and Fig.5, a section onthe plane of line a: m, Fig. 1.

Our invention relates to the coupling of lengths of pipe or tubing bymeans of a couplingsocket, into which the ends of two lengths of pipeare inserted; and it has for its object to provide improved means forsecuring the ends of the lengths to their coupling-socket, and, at thesame time, preventing leakage at the joints of the lengths, and also toenable the ends of the lengths to abut against each other within thecoupling.

Our invention consists in the peculiar formation of the coupling-socketand the ends of the lengths connected thereby, said formation being suchas to create tight annular molds between the interior of thecoupling-socket and the inclosed periphery of the lengths-one or more oneach side of the point of junction of the lengths -which molds areprovided with sprues, and are adapted to receive and retain meltedsulphur or other suitable material when the pipe is laid horizontally,the melted material, when hardened, forming annular keys, which securethe lengths to the socket, and prevent leakage from the joint, all of.which we will now proceed to describe.

In carrying out our invention we employ a tubular socket, A, ofsufficient diameter internally to receive the ends of, the pipe or tubelengths BB, the latter abutting against each I other at the center ofthe socket, and fitting snugly therein, as shown in Fig. l. O 0represent annular spaces or molds, surrounding the sections or lengths BB within the socket A, on each side of the point of junction of thelengths. These spaces or molds are formed by making coincident recessesor half-molds 1 2 in the bore of the socket and the periphery of thelengths, as shown in Fig. 1. The molds are rendered comparatively proofagainst the escape of liquids placed in them by the closeness with whichthe ends of thelengths fit into the sockets; consequently, said moldsare adapted to receive and retain any suitable melted material which,when hardened, will lock the lengths B to the socket A. This material isintroduced into the molds through sprues E, a sprue being provided foreach of the annular molds, through which the melted material is poureduntil said molds are filled. Suitable vent-holes E should be made nearthe sprues. When the material thus introduced is cooled and hardened, itforms annular keys between the bore of the socket and the periphery ofthe lengths B-one on each side of the point of junction of the latter;and these keys perform the twofold office of looking the socket andlengths securely together, and preventing leakage from the joint of thelengths. In case the coupling-socket is rigidly attached to the end ofone of the lengths to be coupled, one annular mold will be sufficient,the same being located between the joint of the lengths and theprojecting end of the socket.

The spaces or molds 0 may be made in various forms; for instance, thehalf-molds 1 2 may be made alike in crosssection, as shown in Fig. 1, orthose on the lengths B may be made up of a number of circumferentialcorrugations, as shown in Fig. 2, or separate indentations, as shown inFig. 3. In fact, any arrangement of coincident half-molds or recessesadapted, first, to form tight isolated annular molds between a tubularsocket and the lengths of pipe or tubing inclosed therein for thereception and retention of melted material, and, secondly, to constitutekey-seats or lateral bearing-surfaces for the annular keys thus formed,partakes of the nature of our invention.

In applying our invention to pipe or tubing -made of thin material thehalf-molds on the lengths should be formed by indenting the same asshown in Fig. 4., while in thick and heavy pipe the half-molds may beformed by removing or compressing a portion of the metal during themanufacture of the pipe, or by subsequent operations.

' We prefer sulphur as a material for the annular keys, as it isfusible, cools readily, and does not contract in cooling. It is alsolight and cheap, and possesses sufficient hardness to adapt it to thepurpose desired.

By our improvement we dispense with screwthreads, and cause the ends ofthe pipe-lengths to abut against each other at the center of the socket.Hence, we are enabled to avoid the enlargement caused by the spacebetween the adjacent ends within the socket, which is common in pipeswhich are screwed into their couplings.

We claim- In a pipe-coupling, the annular molds O 0, located between thesocket A and the inclosed peripheries of the lengths B B on each side ofthe joint of the lengths, each mold being c0mposed of an annular recessor half-mold, 1, made in the interior of the socket, and a coincidentannular recess or half-mold, 2, made in the inclosed periphery of one ofthe lengths, the molds being provided with sprues E, and rendered tightby the contact of the socket with the peripheries of the lengths on eachside of the molds, and thus adapted to receive and retain a fusedsubstance when the pipe is. laid horizontally.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARVEY K. FLAGLER. CHARLES F. BROWN.

Witnesses 4 SAML. M. BARTON, G. H. NIcHoLsoN.

